Chapter 71: The Banquet
In the office, Meng Xudong took out a bottle of whiskey that had been aging for several years and opened it right then and there. He also sliced a plate of Baobao’s ham and had someone bring in a few snacks to go with the drinks.
“Let’s have a good drink together, just the two of us. I’ve been run off my feet these days,” he sighed. “To be honest, I really like everything that’s been happening, but I do have a few other little hobbies. Now, all the time I used to spend on them has been eaten up.”
As he spoke, Meng Xudong raised his glass, clinked it gently with Song Yue’s, took a sip, let out a long breath, and fixed his gaze on Song Yue.
“Brother Yue, something happened at the Administration Division, didn’t it? I’ve been busy lately, but I keep hearing people talk about it.”
Song Yue took a sip of the whiskey, frowning slightly. He wasn’t particularly fond of this flavor, but a little now and then was fine.
“Yeah, quite a few people died. The department’s been rebuilt, and I’m in charge now.” Song Yue’s voice was low; there was nothing to brag about in this business. Especially with the recent murders committed by the dark cultivator, a sense of powerlessness had left a bitter taste in his heart.
Meng Xudong had wanted to congratulate him, but remembering how many people had died, he swallowed the words. He raised his glass to Song Yue in a gesture of solidarity. “Try not to let it get to you, Brother Yue. No one ever wants these things to happen, but once they do, someone’s got to face them.”
Song Yue smiled. “Alright, no need to console me. How’s it going with my mother?”
At the mention of business, Meng Xudong perked up immediately. He picked up a slice of ham with his fingers and popped it into his mouth, saying happily, “Your mother is wonderful, everything’s pretty much settled. Elite Martial Arts School will pay the necessary fees, your father has already started preparations, and I’ve sent people out to scout locations…”
This bastard, Song Yue thought, he acts so familiar, calling them ‘our mother’ and ‘our father’—who’s ‘our’?
Once Meng Xudong started talking business, he was unstoppable. He also told Song Yue that Master Miao’s branch of the Miao School was about to open in Hang City.
“When the time comes, you’ll have to come and lend your support. Oh, and by the way, I haven’t made it public that the Miao branch is affiliated with Elite Martial Arts School. So both sides will put on a bit of a show—throwing jabs, staging competitions and such—to quickly boost their influence.”
Excited, Meng Xudong downed half his glass in one go. His fair face was tinged with red, and he was beaming.
Song Yue, on the other hand, was at a loss for words. In terms of fighting, even before, he could have taken Meng down easily. But in the world of business, Meng could run circles around him. His sharp instincts and endless schemes made all this seem as natural to him as offering casual pointers to his peers in the ring—it was a professional playing at his own game.
And on top of that, the guy had a remarkable talent for martial arts. It just didn’t seem fair.
“By the way, are you really going to Tianyue Star with Lin Huan?” Meng Xudong suddenly remembered. He looked at Song Yue, a little concerned. “Are you sure things will be okay with the Ou family?”
“It’ll be fine. Lin Huan is reliable, and I’m not unprepared myself,” Song Yue replied.
“That’s good. Who knows, I might end up going with you. Once we pick a good location for our first branch there, we’ll open quickly,” Meng Xudong said, grinning. “You’ll have to be there to lend your support!”
Song Yue glanced at him. “Aren’t you afraid the Ou family will come after you?”
Meng Xudong paused, scratching his head. “You know, that’s a real problem…”
Song Yue said, “So I won’t show up at the martial arts school on Tianyue Star. I’ll have Lin Huan ask her family to come support the opening.”
“Brother Yue, you’re amazing! If you can get anyone from the Lin family to show up, even a junior, that’ll be fantastic for us,” Meng Xudong said, giving Song Yue a thumbs up.
Then, with a sly look, he asked, “Lin Huan’s got the looks and the figure, and she’s really sexy. Are you and she…? Just don’t let Brother Qian down, alright!”
Song Yue shot him a look. “You call her ‘Brother Qian’ too? Try saying that to her face if you dare.”
Meng Xudong chuckled. “I don’t have the guts.”
Song Yue couldn’t be bothered to respond. He leaned back on the sofa, lost in thought.
In truth, he had long been weighing the risks and rewards of going to Tianyue Star. Judging by what happened on his trip to the West, the Ou family would not likely let things go easily. On Earth, they could already stir up storms—what would they do on their own turf?
But after joining the Administration Division, he’d used his clearance to look up information on Tianyue Star. There, the Lin family backing Lin Huan was no weaker than the Ou family. They were evenly matched, and the two families had many business collaborations, essentially placing them in the same camp.
So, as a guest of the Lin family, even if the Ou family wanted to move against him, they’d have to think twice.
Of course, what mattered most was his own strength. By the time he left for Tianyue Star, he would be advancing into the Grandmaster realm. That alone would make him a match for those cultivators at the Perfection stage.
Not to mention, his arsenal was impressive: the Dragon-Patterned Immortal-Slaying Blade, that mysterious string of bells from Brother Qian, and the Tongtian Stele—a true killing weapon!
As his spiritual power grew stronger, the Jade Void Tongtian Stele’s power increased accordingly. The teacher had said that ordinary Tongtian Steles had three to five layers of runes, but since its power was suppressed, he couldn’t see how many layers Jade Void’s had—certainly more than five.
Legend had it that the Tongtian Stele was crafted by a supreme being from the era of immortals and buddhas; each was a top-tier artifact, and for every layer of runes activated, its power doubled. A stele with more than three layers was already a terrifying weapon.
His own was something even more—bearing the “Jade Void” name. Judging by its name and the place where Song Yue had obtained it, its origins were likely extraordinary.
So far, he’d only activated the first rune. The second had appeared, but apart from that one time when facing the white-clad youth—when it glowed on its own and let him recover from paralysis—it hadn’t responded. Likely, his realm or spiritual cultivation wasn’t high enough yet. Once he reached Grandmaster, he could try again.
All his recent experiences had made Song Yue appreciate the importance of strength more than ever. As his teacher had said, if he’d been able to bide his time all those years ago, keeping a low profile and building up quietly, he could have slain the leader of the Ancient Sect by now.
Instead, he’d wasted decades, unable to even claim invincibility in the mortal realm—a frustrating thought best left unspoken.
The two of them drank steadily until after five in the afternoon. Song Yue didn’t drink much, since he had a banquet to attend that evening and needed to be presentable. Meng Xudong, however, enjoyed himself thoroughly, relishing a rare afternoon of relaxation with Song Yue—especially after Song Yue had come by and put the new recruits in their place.
Martial artists were often arrogant, especially the young geniuses, strutting around like peacocks. They needed to be taken down a notch to learn respect and be manageable.
As the time approached, Song Yue said his goodbyes. Meng Xudong called a driver and had a luxury car brought around. “You can’t show up at an official banquet in that flashy car of yours. Take this one instead. I’ll have the driver wait for you and take you home afterwards.”
Song Yue accepted the offer. When he arrived at the appointed place, someone was already waiting for him—a young and attractive woman, who smiled as soon as she saw him, walked up, and extended her hand. “Minister Song? Let me take you inside.”
Song Yue nodded, shook her hand lightly, and followed her in. The place was quiet, with barely any other guests in sight. The young woman was well-mannered, and though she might have thought the new division minister was a little too young and handsome, she made no unnecessary comment, showing only the utmost respect as she led him to a large private room.
Inside, a group of seven or eight people were seated on sofas, sipping tea and chatting. Among them were two young women whose eyes lit up when they saw Song Yue.
Everyone stood up at once, greeting him with warmth. The title “Minister Song” echoed around the room.
Song Yue found it a little unfamiliar, but he’d never been one to play by the rules, so he handled the situation with confidence, greeting everyone in turn.
After that, the guests introduced themselves. The leader was Wei Jun, the local official in Hang City, who looked to be under fifty, of medium build and scholarly appearance. He treated Song Yue with warmth and respect.
In terms of official rank, Song Yue, though young for the role, was only half a rank below Wei Jun as minister of the Administration Division’s local branch. Given the department’s special status, he was treated almost as an equal.
Thus, only Wei Jun addressed Song Yue as a peer; the others were all polite, with a hint of deference. To be so young and already a minister—what would he become in the future? Perhaps one day, he’d be the chief minister of the entire Administration Division, reporting directly to the top leadership.
Better to establish a good connection now than wait until it was too late.
Wei Jun smiled at Song Yue. “I know young people don’t like hanging out with us old-timers, so I invited two young people over. You’ll probably have more in common.”
Song Yue smiled. “That’s very thoughtful of you.”
These young women were clearly from distinguished backgrounds—their attire, poise, and the calm confidence with which they faced this group of VIPs made that clear. One of them, in shorts with long legs and flowing hair, had a lively, spirited gaze; if it weren’t for the current occasion, she probably would have come over to chat with him already.
Everyone took their seats. Wei Jun, as host, sat at the head of the table, with Song Yue beside him. The two young women sat across from Song Yue, occasionally sneaking glances at him.
Once the food was served, Wei Jun raised his glass and stood. Solemnly, he said, “Minister Song, I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to dedicate this first glass to Minister Zhao Peng and the others who sacrificed their lives.”
Song Yue had intended to explain the situation, but now realized he had underestimated these high-ranking officials. They wouldn’t make such a basic mistake. This invitation was likely just to meet the new minister and put him at ease—hence the presence of the two lively young women.
Wei Jun poured the contents of his small glass onto the carpet, explaining to Song Yue, “There wasn’t a carpet here before. We put down a cheap one for this toast—otherwise, the staff would be furious.”
Such attention to detail impressed Song Yue.
Once everyone was seated again, Song Yue looked at Wei Jun and said seriously, “I also wanted to clarify: Minister Zhao and the others gave their lives for the country, for the peace of the people. This first glass is indeed for them.”
“Also, I must make it clear that the recent cases were not solved by me alone—the division sent in experts, and I did nothing worthy of praise.”
Wei Jun smiled at him. “Minister Song, that’s not entirely honest. Your first assignment was a complete success. Everyone speaks highly of you—so young and already so capable. For that, let’s all toast to our newly appointed minister!”
Wei Jun rose, glass in hand, smiling. “The peace of Hang City will rely on you, Minister Song!”
Song Yue could only smile bitterly and stand. The way these leaders handled things was far more sophisticated than the “heroes” he’d dealt with before.
Wei Jun had been in Hang City for over three years and was likely due for a promotion. Though the recent string of cases had been assigned to the Administration Division, as the city’s chief official, he had still been under a lot of pressure. A misstep could affect his career, to say nothing of his own conscience.
Now that the crisis was over and the city was calm again, he could finally relax. Hence, the banquet.
Soon, the atmosphere became more casual. The two young women did not disappoint; though they were young, their insight, poise, and conversation skills quickly livened things up, drawing the attention back to Song Yue from time to time.
Song Yue kept a modest demeanor—not his natural style, but necessary in this setting.
Halfway through the banquet, someone came in and whispered in Wei Jun’s ear. Wei Jun remained composed and whispered back, “Tell them I have guests. I’ll see them later.”
The visitor nodded and left.
Seated next to Wei Jun, Song Yue had sharp ears and caught the exchange clearly. The visitor had said that someone very important wanted to see Song Yue. Wei Jun seemed to know who it was but didn’t agree right away.
Who could it be?
As Song Yue pondered, a faint argument was heard outside. The door opened, and a rather young man entered—handsome, radiating the aura of someone in power, and barely eighteen or nineteen. He scanned the room, then fixed his gaze on Song Yue. “You’re Song Yue? Step outside.”
Song Yue stayed seated, silent, waiting to see Wei Jun’s reaction.
Wei Jun frowned. “Why don’t you wait outside for a moment?”
The young man ignored him, his eyes locked on Song Yue. “I’m from the Li family of the capital. I have business with you. Come out.”
Wei Jun’s expression tightened, but he kept his composure. “We’re in the middle of a banquet. Whatever it is, it can wait.”
Finally, the young man looked at Wei Jun, his face calm. “Mr. Wei, I mean no disrespect, but I’m here for Song Yue.”
Wei Jun’s frown deepened. “He’s my guest.”
The young man paid him no heed, his gaze turning sharp as he stared at Song Yue. “I’m talking to you. Didn’t you hear me?”
The atmosphere in the room turned icy. The two young women sat without turning around, their faces stiff.
Song Yue, who had been perfectly well-behaved all evening, pushed his chair back, crossed his legs, folded his arms, and looked calmly at the self-proclaimed Li family youth. “Are we close?”
“We’ve never met,” the young man replied.
Song Yue gave a faint smile. “Then who the hell are you?”
“Do I owe you money?”
“Or my life?”
“You talk to me like this? If you have something to say, say it. If not, get out.”
The Li family of the capital—what arrogance! Just another cultivating clan like the Qian family; even Brother Qian never put on such airs. Who did he think he was?
The young man’s face darkened, but before he could speak, a man of about twenty-eight or nine, who resembled him, rushed in. He shot the younger man a fierce glare, then turned to Wei Jun with a smile. “Mr. Wei, I apologize for my brother’s behavior.”
He turned to the younger man. “What are you doing? Come with me!”
The younger brother seemed a little afraid of him, but still shot Song Yue a venomous look before leaving.
With things having reached this point, the meal was effectively over. Fortunately, it had nearly ended anyway.
Wei Jun, looking embarrassed, apologized to Song Yue. “I’m sorry, Minister Song. I didn’t expect this to happen.”
Song Yue shook his head. “It’s not your fault.”
He himself was puzzled. He’d heard of the Li family in the capital—a top cultivation clan in China, like the Qian family, a pillar of the community. But with no prior contact between them, he couldn’t imagine what they wanted.
Wei Jun seemed equally in the dark. “Don’t worry, Minister Song. I’ll ask their elders and let you know.”
“Thank you,” Song Yue replied.
When they left the restaurant, the twenty-eight-year-old was waiting outside, but the younger man was nowhere to be seen. The elder approached Song Yue with a smile. “Minister Song, I’m sorry for my brother’s rudeness. I apologize on his behalf.”
Song Yue glanced at him, thinking, You ignored me inside, but now you wait outside to apologize?
“No need. Just keep an eye on your brother,” Song Yue said, nodding to Wei Jun and the others before heading to Meng’s car, where the driver waited.
The elder Li smiled at Wei Jun, then hurried after Song Yue. “Minister Song, could we talk somewhere in private?”
Song Yue shook his head. “I don’t know you or your family. We have nothing to discuss.”
“It really is important,” the man insisted.
Song Yue stopped. “Tomorrow, then. I’m tired today.”
Without another word, he got in the car and let the driver take him away.
The elder Li didn’t pursue him, nor did he pay any more attention to Wei Jun and the others. He got in a car, where his younger brother sat sulking.
“You really did it this time!” he said coldly. “Who do you think you are? The Li family of the capital! What face! Did you see that? He couldn’t care less about you. This is Hang City! That peer you look down on is already the minister of the Hang City branch of the Administration Division!”
His younger brother sneered, “So what? He only got the job because no one else dared take it—a scapegoat, nothing more. Why bother being polite? Just drag him out, set him straight, and make sure he knows what’s what!”
The elder sighed, a look of disappointment on his face. “If that’s your attitude, you might as well go home and stop embarrassing us.”
“Brother! I really don’t get you. What’s so complicated? Just warn him—if he messes with us, we’ll take him out!”
Li Bing looked at his brother, speechless, and told the driver, “Take us back to the hotel.”
——
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to everyone! One chapter today, more tomorrow!
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